Angel Has Fallen

An appreciation of beer brought this film to us. A young Gerard Butler was training to be a lawyer in Edinburgh but he wanted to go on the lash more. This love of life made the 25 year old man realise he didn't want to be in a courtroom. He wanted to be famous. So he made it happen and in 2019 we are treated to the sight of him headshotting his way across the Mason-Dixon line.

Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is crocked. Being the president's number one man has taken it's toll on him in a big way. Migraines, insomnia, back pain, all part and parcel of life in the Secret Service. His hard work has paid off though and the most powerful man in the world, President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) trusts him with his life. Until a drone attack happens. Now Mike is running for his life and every law enforcement agent in the world is out to get him. Only one man can help him. But he has to find him first.

Who would have thought that the sight of Nick Nolte looking like Harry from Bigfoot And The Henderson's would be the catalyst for reigniting a flagging action franchise? Not I. But his appearance midway through Angel Has Fallen is one that livens up the film no end. The 'Fallen' franchise is a rare one these days, a series of R rated movies that don't shy from blood and profanity. In an age of Marvel family friendly blockbusters they feel like a breath of fresh air but the gleeful relishing of violence (the Melissa Leo scene comes to mind) in Olympus Has Fallen and the nasty strain of xenophobia running through London Has Fallen ("Go back to Fuckheadistan!") did leave a bitter aftertaste. Thankfully Angel Has Fallen has left that behind and as such it's a far more fun watch than it's predecessors and it's all down to a beardy forest dweller. You'll even keep smiling during the worst special effect of the decade. Trust me, you can't miss it.

Unlike Olympus and Angel, both more or less siege movies, this one is a chase movie and it's a welcome change of pace. Nothing gets boring as fast as the same scenario played out again and again. Then while zipping around the Southern states it manages to get in sly digs at the state of both modern day America and the country's relationship with firearms and then all of a sudden we get thrown into the middle of a treatise on how a life in the military can dehumanise a man. Who the hell expected such depth in a Gerard Butler action movie (™)?? An unexpected and most welcome surprise. There's nothing wrong with showing a bit of vulnerability in an action movie and that's something the target audience for this film could stand to hear.

But fear not explosion fans, the grit you'll expect is still here too. For every moment of depth we get a scene of Mike Banning headbutting a car full of spec ops into submission. For every bonding moment we get 30 men blown to bits by claymore explosions. For every scene with a dignified Morgan Freeman we get armpits being stabbed viciously. There's something for us all. It's not one bit subtle but it's definitely the most entertaining film of the franchise so far.

In cinemas everywhere now.